The Levels of Worship –1. Altitude – the lowest level of worship is motivated by altitude. It seeks an altitude shift as a reward for worship. It’s a quid pro quo, a deal with God. It seeks to get God to respond to our behavior. For most this is a cry for self elevation. For some it is a plea for the fall and descent of someone else. We’re looking for another level (either higher or lower) for ourselves or someone else.
2. Gratitude – the next level of worship is motivated by gratitude. It’s a response to God for what He has already done. It often seeks to retain and maintain an act and move of God. It’s really insurance to keep us from losing a long prayed for blessing. We say thank you because we’re genuinely happy and relieved. We also say thank you because we’re afraid that if we don’t, the blessing will be diminished or taken away. It’s an aspect of works-faith in which we work hard to keep our blessings by making sure we praise Him. Like Job, this kind of worship is really rooted in fear (Job 1:5).
3. Attitude – the highest level of worship is motivated by attitude. It is not a deal with God to get Him to do our will, nor a response to God for what He has already done. It is the pure and genuine expression of the human spirit when it recognizes who God is and who we are in relationship to Him. Attitude is the conviction and thought that undergirds action. An attitude of praise is the underlying conviction that God is awesome and always worthy of praise. It is the natural progression from God encounter and God consciousness to God embrace. Like water turning to mist when it meets the sun, our spirits naturally transition to worship when we encounter The Lord. It’s a praise that’s not trying to get or keep anything. It’s a praise that just is.
On what level do you worship most often? Identify one biblical character who worshiped on each level. Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
